chime
UK: tʃaɪm | US: tʃaɪm
n. a melodious ringing sound, typically produced by bells or similar objects
n. a set of tuned bells or metal bars used as a musical instrument
vi. to produce a ringing sound
vt. to cause (a bell or device) to ring
chime = chim<bell> + e (no semantic suffix)
- chim<bell>: Derived from Old English cimbal (cymbal) and Latin cymbalum, referring to a resonant metal instrument.
- e: A silent letter with no morphemic function in modern English.
Etymology Origin:
The word chime traces back to the Old English cimbal, borrowed from Latin cymbalum (cymbal), reflecting its association with resonant metal sounds. Over time, it narrowed to describe the harmonious ringing of bells, retaining its musical connotation. The silent -e is a vestige of Middle English spelling conventions.
The church bells chime every hour.
Wind chimes tinkled softly in the breeze.
She listened to the chime of the doorbell.
The clock chimed midnight.
The orchestra included a set of tubular chimes.